by J.A. Marshall
To be honest, my near death experience is something that I have kept very private, the main reason being that when I have spoken of it it tends to make people uncomfortable. There is however something about this time now that we are living in that I would like to share my experience, at least to alleviate some of the fears people are feeling right now.
In February 1997 I was 25 and diagnosed with a life threatening lung condition, basically my lungs hadn’t developed as they should have whilst I was growing and they had ‘weak spots’ where the outer membrane was very thin. At the time of diagnosis I was very shut down emotionally and spiritually, and struggling with family issues and relationship problems.
In March 1997 my left lung collapsed, the membrane burst and I was taken into hospital for surgery and was told I would need a Bullectomy and a Pleurectomy. Basically, the weak part of my lung would be cut away and the lung cemented to my inner chest. During the surgery I died. I don’t remember clearly leaving my body, but remember a bright intense light that I went into/through, and felt very free and light. The light faded around me and I found myself on the edge of a forest clearing with someone in front of me who I knew, but not from my earth life. This person took me into the clearing where there was a large oval table with lots of people sat around, and one spare place which I was motioned to take. After I sat down a screen appeared over the table and my life story began to play, every experience from birth, only as the images played I was aware of the thoughts, feelings and emotions of everyone involved in the experience, I knew everything from every perspective.
At the end of the review I was asked if I felt I had accomplished my life task. I knew I hadn’t and said so. I was then escorted by the ‘friend’ who met me away from the clearing, back into a white light, and was back in my body on life support in intensive care.
I was told before I came back that I needed to make changes in my life; be more open, loving and spiritual.
I can’t say that life has been easy since I came back, the experience has brought many challenges. I see things differently now, see the human experience for what it is; that we are all here to learn and grow. How many people get to see beyond deaths door? I count myself very privileged and honoured to have been dead and know there is no death. I want people to know what I have experienced, yet through the experience I know that it is a path that each of us must find on our own.
One thing which I can’t explain from my experience is that I seem to have been a bit rewired, in that I have retained a connection to the afterlife, bit like being in two places at the same time. Very strange, but I’m learning to live with it.
There’s a lot more I could say, since my experience I have been open in a way I never could have imagined, and have had experiences that have opened my mind immensely.
If people really knew, if we could give them the understanding, then we would have a world from source…but I do know, all is as it was meant to be, we must not judge, or ask for it to be different, look to the bigger picture, and only know that we are eternal souls having experiences.
Love,
James.
[James had alluded to this experience in a comment on the site and I asked if he could share it and he graciously has here. I'm very grateful to him as I know this will touch and encourage many. Fear of death is a terrible bondage humanity has been subjected to and must be thrown off.
Thank you, James. Love, Zen]
Zen